Russia draws attention to position of ‘several nationalities’ in Ukraine

September 24, 2014, 10:35 UTC+3THE UNITED NATIONSA presidential decree was signed on measures for rehabilitation of Crimean Tatar and several other peoples in Russia and state support to their revival and development

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Russian Depputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov

THE UNITED NATIONS, September 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia has noted the position of “several nationalities” living in Ukraine at the UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. The country’s deputy foreign minister has made this statement in response to Ukraine’s assertions on problems that the Crimean Tatars face in Russia.

“In his yesterday’s speech, the Ukrainian representative dwelt on the position of Crimean Tatars in Russia,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said. “I am glad to note that the Ukrainian authorities have finally showed interest in the issue of indigenous peoples. We hope that this factor will have a positive effect on the position of representatives of several nationalities living in Ukraine.”

The Russian representative noted that “for more than 20 years of independence”, the Ukrainian authorities had not taken “even the slightest effort for what had been undertaken for several months after Crimea’s reunification with Russia” in order to improve the situation of Crimean Tatars. “In 2011, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination noted serious problems amassed in this issue and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities — in August 2013,” Gatilov added.

“The Crimean Tatar language was recognized as a state language along with Russian and Ukrainian languages in the Russian Republic of Crimea. A presidential decree was signed on measures for rehabilitation of Crimean Tatar and several other peoples and state support to their revival and development. Crimean Tatars were involved in representative authorities. Many other issues aimed at restoring historical justice, political, social and spiritual revival of Crimean Tatars are being settled,” the deputy foreign minister said.